Wherever you are this summer—at home, a summer job or on campus—make sure you and your family/roommates can receive, understand and act on information received in an emergency.

Did you know that hurricanes or any tropical system can have FIVE major impacts? These include storm surge, flooding, strong wind, tornadoes and rip currents.

The week of May 1-7 is Hurricane Preparedness Week. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Their impacts can be felt hundreds of miles inland, and significant impacts can occur without it being a major hurricane.

An emergency food supply doesn’t have to sit on a shelf, ready for disaster to strike (although it can). It can be part of the food you use every day. The key to a good food storage plan is to buy ahead of time.

Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. Extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards.

Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death.

North Carolina’s Statewide Tornado Drill is scheduled for Wednesday, March 9 at 9:30 a.m.

Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that include lightning.

The National Weather Service uses the words “advisory”, “watch” and “warning” to alert you to potentially dangerous weather. Understanding these terms and knowing how to react can be a life saver.